Science

Chapter: Combustion and

Flame
-Gaurika Panwar
Q.1 . In villages, people use wood as fuel
because:
(a) it is considered to be an ideal fuel.
(b) of its easy availability and low cost.
(c) it is environment friendly.
(d) it catches fire easily.

Answer: (b.) of its easy availability

Q.2 What are the states in which a fuel may exist?

Answer: A fuel may exist in solid, liquid or gaseous state.

Q.3 What are the three essential requirements for
combustion and why?
Answer: The three things required for combustion are fuel,
oxygen, and heat.

Reason: The fuel is used to burn, the air is supplied through

the oxygen and the heat is used to continue the combustion
process. The heat is also called ignition temperature.
Q.4 Give two examples each of solid fuels, liquid fuels and gaseous fuels .

Answer: Solid fuels – Wood, cow dung, etc.

Liquid fuels – Kerosene, petrol, etc.
Gaseous fuels – Hydrogen, methane, etc.
Q.5 Mention any three characteristics of a good
fuel.

Answer: Three characteristics of a good fuel are following:

● It has high calorific value.
● It is very easy to transport.
● It is cheap, affordable and economic.
Q.6 Explain how water gets boiled in paper cup without
burning it?
Answer:When we heat the paper cup containing water, the heat
given to it is rapidly transferred to water from the paper cup. The
temperature of water goes on increasing until it attains its boiling
point, and starts boiling. As, during this process, the heat is
continuously being transferred to water; the paper cup does not
attain its ignition temperature. Hence, it does not burn.
Q.7 If you hold a piece of iron wire with a pair of
tongs inside a candle flame or a Bunsen burner flame,
what will you observe? Will it produce a flame?

Answer: We will observe that the iron wire will become red hot
and start glowing but it will not produce a flame as it is non
flammable object.
Q.8 During a class discussion on ‘fuels for household’
Sarita suggested petrol. But her teacher said it is not a
safe fuel for household activity and asked her to sit.
Sarita wondered why petrol can’t be used as a fuel for
household activity though its calorific value is
high.Why petrol is not a safe fuel for household
activity?
Answer: Petrol vapourises easily so it can lead to rapid
combustion. Hence it is not safe as household fuel.
Q.9 A flame always points upwards. Why do you think
this is so?
(HINT: Gases produced in a flame are hot, and hence
lighter.)
Answer: Hot gas is generally less dense than cool gas. Flame is a very hot
gas. As the flame burns, it takes the oxygen from the atmospheric air and heats
the surrounding atmospheric gases. Therefore, the hot air around the flame is
pushed up because it is less dense. As the air around the flame is pushed up,
the air around the flame is drawn towards the flame to take the space of the
lighter gases, which are pushed up. Meanwhile, the surrounding cold air is
pulled down by gravity and the flame is pressurised all around by the
atmospheric gases. This elongates the flame upward.
Q.10 Why is it easier to burn dry leaves but not
green leaves?

Answer: The ignition temperature of green leaves is higher than that

of the dry leaves because they contain moisture in them. Therefore,
its easier to burn dry leaves but not green leaves
Q.11 You are provided with three watch glasses containing milk, petrol and mustard oil, respectively. Suppose you
bring a burning candle near these materials one by one, which material(s) will catch fire instantly and why?

Answer: If a burning candle is bought near milk, mustard oil,

and petrol, the petrol will catch fire instantly as it is a highly
volatile liquid that has low ignition temperature thus making it
highly inflammable as compared to the other two liquids.
Thank You